Annunciator for telephone-exchanges



No. 6l9,942. Patented Feb. 2|, I899.

' W. R. COLE.

ANNUNOIA TOR FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

(Apy lication filed Aug. 25, 18 97.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. COLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ANNUNCIATOR FOR TELEPHONE-EXCHANGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,942, dated February21,1899.

Application filed August 25, 1897. Serial No. 649,426. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM R. COLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michi gan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Annunciators forTelephone- Exchanges, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates more particularly to that class of annunciatorsespecially designed to be used in connection with telephone-exchanges;and the invention is embodied in the peculiar construction, arrangement,and combination of parts whereby an easily-discernible signal isdisplayed and economy of space is secured.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the annunciator. Fig. 2is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3is a perspective view of thesegmental wing forming the display-signal. Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof a display-board, to which a number of the annunciators are secured.

A is the front plate ondisplay-board, in which are formed a series ofslots B. In rear of this board and opposite each of the slots isarranged a segmental wing G, which is pivotally secured to the board andis adapted to be projected through the slot in an upward arc. Thesewings O are normally held in their retracted position by a latchcontrolled by an electromagnet which when energized will release thewing and allow it to be proj ected through the slot.

In the construction shown in the drawings the wings O are formed ofsheet metal having the segmental portion a, the pivoted ears 6, theupwardly-extending arm 0, and the rearwardly-extending arm cl, the partsbeing so counterbalanced as to turn the wing into position where it isprojected through a slot.

D is the frame for supporting the electromagnet and to which also thewings C are pivoted, said frame comprising two parallel bars having thelugs or feet f for securing them to board A, and the cross-bar g, towhich the core of the magnet is secured. This core extends on each sideof the cross-bar g and is surrounded on the opposite sides by theseparate coils E and F.

G and II are armatures hinged to the lower bar of the frame at oppositeends of the core, the former being provided with a pin or projection h,on which the arm at of the wing O normally rests to hold said wing inits restricted position. The armature H is connected with the rod I,which is slidingly secured in bearings on the frame D and extends to thefront of said frame into proximity to the arm 0 of the wing.

Each of the coils E and F is preferably provided with an exteriorwinding of soft-iron wire,'which forms a magnetic shield, preventinginduction from adjoining coils.

J is the call-circuit, including the coil E, and K is a localrestoring-circuit, including the coil F, and which is provided with akey or circuit-closer L under the control of the operator.

M is an electric circuit including the nightbell, which circuit isnormally open and is adapted to be closed by a circuit-closer comprisingthe arm d of the wing O and an insulated contact secured to the frame D,against which said arm is adapted to strike when the wing is projected.

In operation the closing of the call-circuit J energizes the magnetformed by the coil E, the core on which it is wound, the cross-bar g,and that portion of the lower bar of the frame D between the cross-barand the hinged armature, said bar being preferably formed of soft iron.This will move the armature G, disengaging the pin h from the arm at ofthe wing C and allowing the latter to be projected out of the slot B. Toretract the wing to its normal position, the operator presses the keyL,which closes the local circuit K and energizes the magnet F. Thismoves the armature H,which carries the rod I longitudinally, its forwardend striking against the arm 0 and withdrawing the wing to its initialposition, when the arm d will rengage with the pin 71..

Such an annunciator is very compact, as all of its parts are containedwithin the parallel bars of the frame D. Thus it is especially adaptedfor telephone-exchanges where it is desirable to group a large number ofannunciators in as small a space as possible. Although thus closelygrouped together the signal-wings O are nevertheless easily discernible,as their segmental shape will cause them to reflect the light, so as tocatch the eye of the operator in whatever position he may be.

The magnetic shield formed by the winding of soft-iron wire prevents alldisturbance of one annunciator by the operation of an adjoining one, andalthough the two coils E and F are placed on the same core and in linewith each other yet they form independent magnets which do not interferewith each other, as each has a completed magnetic circuit, a

portion of which is formed by the bar of the frame D.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. In an annunciator, the combinationof a movable signal-wing, two axially-alined electromagnets in rear ofsaid wing, an armature between the wing and the first electromagnet forholding the wing in its normal retracted position, an armature for thesecond magnet in rear thereof, and means operated by said last-mentionedarmature for returning the wing to its normal position.

2. In an annunciator, the combination of a movable signal-wing, meansfor moving said wing into view, two axially-alined electromagnets inrear of said Wing, a latch located between the wing and the first magnetfor holding the wing in its normally-retracted position and controlledby said first magnet, an armature for the other magnet and in rearthereof, and means actuated by said armature for returning thesignal-wing to its normal position.

3. In an annunciator, the combination of a segmental signal-wing, meansfor moving the same into view, two aXially-alined electromagnets in rearof said wing, an arm carried by said wing, an armature located betweenthe wing and the first magnet and adapted to engage said arm to hold thewing in its normally-retracted position, an armature for the secondmagnet and in rear thereof and a rod operated by said last-mentionedarmature for returning the wing to its normal position.

4. In an annunciator, the combination of a slotted plate, a wing hingedin rear of said plate, means for projecting said wing through the slotin said plate, a metallic frame secured to said plate and extendingperpendicular thereto, a magnet-core, a supporting-block for said corebetween its ends and in electric connection with said frame, coils onsaid core one on each side of said supporting-block, an armature for oneend of said core and between the latter and the hinged wing and adaptedto hold the latter in its normal retracted position, an armature for therear end of said core, and a rod connected to said armature and adaptedto be moved thereby axially of said core to return said wing to itsnormal retracted position.

5. The combination with a slotted frameplate, of the frame D secured tothe rear side thereof and extending perpendicular thereto, the segmentalWings 0 pivotally secured to said frame, adapted to be projected throughsaid slot in an upward arc, and provided with the rearwardly-extendingarm at and the upwardly-extending arm 0, the oppositely-extending alinedelectromagnets E and F, one in rear of the other, secured to said framein rear of said wing, the hinged armatures G and H therefor, the formernormally support ing the arm d and holding the wing C in its retractedposition but adapted to release said arm upon the operation of themagnet E, and the rod I connected to this armature H adapted on theoperation of the magnet F to impinge against the arm 0 of the wing O andrestore said wing to its normal retracted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM R. COLE.

\Vitnesses:

M. B. ODOUGHERTY, P. M. HULBERT.

